Program gives academy cadets view of operational Air Force

From left, Cadet Robert Gibson, Cadet Joseph Truxal, Capt. Mike Deprey and Cadet Mark Kaminski walk the flightline while Deprey, 345th Airlift Squadron, briefs the Air Force Academy cadets on the duties and responsibilities of being a pilot. Operation Air Force is an annual program for Air Force Academy students to taste what the operational Air Force is really like. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Program gives academy cadets view of operational Air Force

From left, Cadet Joseph Truxal, Capt. Mike Deprey, 345th Airlift Squadron, Cadet Mark Kaminski and Cadet Robert Gibson view the inside of a C-130 cockpit while receiving a briefing in preperation for flying from Deprey. He also briefs the Air Force Academy cadets on the duties and responsibilities of being a pilot. Operation Air Force is an annual program for Air Force Academy students to taste what the operational Air Force is really like. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Program gives academy cadets view of operational Air Force

Published July 20, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Heather Heiney
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Operation Air Force is an annual program for Air Force Academy students to taste what the operational Air Force is really like.

Cadets have the opportunity to tour Air Force bases around the world and shadow company grade officers in various career fields.

The program consists of three three-week sessions and Keesler hosts about six cadets per session.

Keesler's second session began June 19 and extended through July 7. Activities included senior noncommissioned officer question-and-answer session, a company grade officers panel and tours of the air traffic control tower, hospital and the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.

Course objectives included gaining an appreciation for how operations and support functions integrate and contribute to successful accomplishment of a wing's mission; the role of CGOs at the squadron level; squadron leadership expectations of CGOs; career fields and Air Force Specialty Codes of interest.

The program also looks at the nature of enlisted personnel, their duties and their impact on mission accomplishment; and the enlisted corps' expectations of officers.

"I've learned a lot more about how the active-duty Air Force actually works and that there's light at the end of the tunnel,"said Cadet Mark Kaminski.

Capt. Mike Deprey, 345th Airlift Squadron pilot, said that the importance of the Operation Air Force program is for cadets to see what the operational side is like and what the job entails in daily life.

"It has confirmed my desires to be a pilot and has given me a better understanding of the tempo of the job and what it's like day by day," said Cadet Robert Gibson.

During their stay, the cadets shadowed a host CGO at his/her assigned work center, trained on one or more tasks and duties in assigned operations and support squadrons, worked the same duty hours as their facilitator and attended mentoring sessions, tours and demonstrations.

"This experience has broadened my ideas of what I want to do in the Air Force," said Cadet Joseph Truxal.

"I've seen more planes I'd like to consider flying and working with."